MOH Cancer Drug List 2025: Coverage & Limits

When you’re facing a cancer diagnosis in Singapore, the first question after “what treatment?” is often “what will it cost?”. The Ministry of Health’s Cancer Drug List (CDL) is the official framework that decides which outpatient drugs MediShield Life and MediSave will cover — and up to how much, and this guide walks through how the list works, what the claim limits are, and what to watch for as new drugs enter the market.

Drugs listed on MOH Cancer Drug List (2025): over 100 ·
Cost limit per year (MediShield Life): SGD 600 per drug per month ·
Drugs approved by HSA: all on CDL ·
Patients covered by CDL: all Singapore residents

The table below summarizes the key facts about the MOH Cancer Drug List.

Five categories, one pattern: the lower the category number, the lower the monthly claim limit — but even Category 1 drugs ($200/month) can be a lifeline for patients on affordable generics.

What is the MOH cancer drug list?

Purpose of the Cancer Drug List

• MOH publishes the CDL specifically for MediShield Life and MediSave coverage of outpatient cancer treatments (MOH cancer treatment financing FAQ).
• Only drugs on the list are claimable under these schemes — if a drug isn’t listed, patients pay fully out-of-pocket (MOH FAQ).
• The list covers outpatient cancer drugs approved by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) (MOH Cancer Drug List).

Who maintains the list in Singapore

• The Ministry of Health (MOH) manages and updates the Cancer Drug List directly (MOH Cancer Drug List page).
• Updates occur every four months to reflect new drug approvals and changes in treatment guidelines (The Straits Times (Singapore news)).
• The list is published as a PDF on the MOH website for public access.

The implication: the CDL acts as a gatekeeper for public cancer drug financing, and its periodic updates directly affect patients’ out-of-pocket costs.

What are the most powerful and newest cancer drugs?

Most powerful chemotherapy drugs

• “Most powerful” varies by cancer type — there is no single strongest chemo drug (Creative BioMart (biotech research)).
• Some of the most potent agents include platinum-based drugs like cisplatin and carboplatin for solid tumors.
• Targeted therapies like trastuzumab (Herceptin) for HER2-positive breast cancer are considered highly effective for specific mutations (Creative BioMart (biotech research)).

New drugs for 2026 and beyond

• New oncology drugs expected for 2026 include next-generation immunotherapies and targeted kinase inhibitors (Creative BioMart (biotech research)).
• These drugs often target specific genetic mutations, offering better outcomes for patients with biomarker-positive cancers.
• Not all 2026 drugs will automatically be added to the MOH CDL — MOH evaluates each for clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

100% success rate breakthrough?

• A single small trial reported 100% remission for certain rectal cancer patients using dostarlimab, but this has not received FDA approval for broad use (Liv Hospital (medical centre)).
• According to experts, the results are promising but require larger trials before becoming standard of care.
• Such drugs are not yet on the MOH Cancer Drug List.

The trade-off: breakthrough drugs can take years to reach Singapore’s CDL, leaving patients to choose between waiting for coverage or paying out-of-pocket for cutting-edge treatments.

What is the biggest cancer drug and what causes cancer?

Top-selling oncology drugs worldwide

• Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is the top-selling cancer drug, with global sales exceeding $25 billion in 2024 (Creative BioMart (biotech research)).
• The top 30 list includes immunotherapies like Opdivo (nivolumab) and targeted drugs like Ibrance (palbociclib) (Creative BioMart (biotech research)).
• Many of these top sellers are also on Singapore’s CDL, though with specific claim limits.

What causes 90% of cancer?

• The World Health Organization and major cancer agencies attribute approximately 90% of cancers to environmental and lifestyle factors rather than inherited genetics (WHO (global health authority)).
• Key contributors include tobacco use, diet, obesity, infections, and environmental carcinogens.
• This means most cancers are theoretically preventable through lifestyle changes and public health measures.

What is the new pill for the deadliest cancer?

There is no specific new pill for the deadliest cancer currently on the MOH Cancer Drug List. While media reports highlight promising treatments, none have been added to the CDL as of 2025.

The pattern: the biggest-selling drugs globally often target the most common cancers (lung, breast, colorectal) — the same cancers that dominate Singapore’s incidence statistics.

How do I use the MOH cancer drug list for claims?

Understanding limits on drug claims

• Each drug on the CDL has a specific monthly claim limit under MediShield Life (MOH cancer treatment financing FAQ).
• Category limits range from $200 (Category 1) to $5,400 (Category 27) per month, as shown in the snapshot above.
• Patients cannot claim more than the listed limit per drug, even if the actual cost is higher.

MediShield Life and MAF drug list differences

• The MOH Cancer Drug List is specifically for outpatient cancer treatments under MediShield Life and MediSave (MOH cancer treatment financing FAQ).
• The MOH MAF (Medication Assistance Fund) drug list covers non-cancer drugs and has different eligibility criteria.
• Cancer drug services — including infusion, pharmacy, and consultation — have separate claim limits under MediShield Life.

The implication: the CDL is not just a reference — it’s a spending cap. Patients and doctors should consider whether a listed drug’s limit aligns with its actual cost before committing to a treatment plan.

“MediShield Life and MediSave only cover cancer treatments that are on Singapore’s Cancer Drug List from 1 September 2022 onward.”

— Ministry of Health Singapore (healthcare policy authority)

“Each cancer drug treatment on the Cancer Drug List has its own MediShield Life claim limit and MediSave withdrawal limit.”

— Ministry of Health Singapore (healthcare policy authority)

“MOH updates the CDL every four months to include new drug approvals.”

— The Straits Times (Singapore news)

Singapore’s MOH Cancer Drug List is more than a roster of medicines — it’s the financial guardrail for cancer care in one of the world’s most expensive healthcare environments. For residents facing a cancer diagnosis, the first step after the doctor’s prescription is a visit to the MOH website. The choice is clear: check the list before you buy, or pay the full price.

Frequently asked questions